Preschool Christmas Party

This past Friday was the 2-year old Christmas party at school and it was hosted by non other than the Smiley's! Each parent was asked to pick a holiday in which to host a party and based on the remaining selection, which was Christmas, Easter, and May Day, we chose Christmas as it may be difficult to arrange a party with a newborn. The class enjoyed listening to Christmas stories, singing "Jingle Bells," and icing/decorating sugar cookies. Luckily for Tatum, Mike had the day off so he was able to join in the fun.

Being very silly - as she always is!

It was a challenge to keep them from eating the cookies too soon!

Patiently waiting for their icing

Elise eating her cookie

BFF's!

Thanksgiving 2009

Since we were unable to leave town for Thanksgiving we were happy to be joined by my mom, and brother, Greg, who flew in for the holiday from St. Louis. With Mike's Q3 call schedule (i.e. on-call every third night) getting sleep is a challenge so there was no question that we would be in Norfolk for the weekend. We had a great time with my mom and Greg and we enjoyed a delicious non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Friday (because Mike worked on Thursday) with our friends, Josh and Rebecca, along with their children, Elise and Caleb, and their respective family members who were in town. We had a great time celebrating and we forgot that it was not the actual "Thanksgiving day."

For the most part we laid low throughout the weekend since it was cool and rainy but we did get the chance to sneak in a visit to the zoo on Sunday as it was sunny and 65 degrees outside. We enjoyed one of the last visits of 2009 to the zoo and Tatum had a great time showing "gamma" all the animals!

Watching the world globe water fountain

Tatum [anxiously] feeding the goat

Baby Smiley Update

Despite the severe flooding in the area the past few days, a colleague did us a favor and performed a fetal echo on the newest Smiley fetus. In addition to having a structurally and physiologically normal heart, the pediatric cardiologist did take a look at one other area for us....

Baby Smiley is a Boy! Pictures to follow when we get them.

The "November Nor'easter"

The combination of the remnants of Hurricane Ida passing through our area coupled with a Nor'easter that hit us at the same time in addition to already high tides because of the full moon left Norfolk in a state of emergency the past few days! Heavy rains (over 1 foot) and strong winds (60 mph) started Wednesday night and lasted through Friday the 13th. This combination led to the tides rising over 7 feet above flood levels, the worst since Hurricane Isabel passed through this area. At its peak on Thursday night, the water in our street was above my (Mike) waist, over 2 feet higher than the pictures posted. We were lucky in that we had electricity the entire time and our basement only had minimal flooding. Other people fared much worse though and the city is starting to clean up and get back to normal.

Water in front of our house. Still 2 feet to go!

Flooding at our intersection

More Flooding at our intersection

Across the street from us

Looking towards Tatum's preschool - which was canceled (of course!).

Swimming Lessons

For the past two months Tatum and Lindsey have been attending weekly parent-child swim lessons on Monday mornings. Today was the last day so we wanted to snap a few pictures of Tatum enjoying her time in the pool. Starting in January, Tatum will move up to the parent-child level II which she will complete up until baby #2 arrives!

Reaching out and working on splashing our hands

Getting ready to be dunked...

...mission accomplished!

A trip down memory lane...

It is hard to believe that Tatum is already 2 years old...time really does fly when you are having fun! After uploading the Halloween pictures we began looking at some pictures over the past two years and it was such a trip down memory lane. These are pictures of Tatum from Halloween 2007 and Halloween 2008 - what a difference time can make...

Halloween 2007 - 2 weeks old

Halloween 2008 - 12 months

Halloween 2009

Just a couple of shots from Halloween day/night 2009. We started off the afternoon with a party at our friends, the Snyder's home, and then we finished the night with trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Sadly Mike had to work a shift at the local ER so he was not able to participate in any of the fun but Tatum had a great time and she received a lot of delicious candy. Tatum did spend much of the day confused because of all of the scary masks and silly noises and it is apparent in many of the pictures.

Wrapping the dad's up as Mummy's

Tatum, like the other kids, unsure of what to think of the mummy's?!

Caleb, Elise, Tatum, and Carter ready to go out and get some candy!

Checking out some of the scary masks and costumes

Stopping for some treats after a few blocks

Back at the Arthur's after 2 hours of trick-or-treating

Halloween Parade at School

On Friday the preschool hosted its first Halloween Parade rather than just having the typical in-class parties. The kids had a chance to trick-or-treat around the school before heading out and walking around the block. Many of us mom's were on-hand with camera's to snap some pictures of the little ones as they marched around.

The 2's with their teachers, Ms. Becca and Ms. Jen


Tatum and Elise: the bumblebee and her "hunny" pot!

Bye "hunny!"

Tatum Starts Preschool!

It is hard to believe that Tatum is big enough to start preschool but now that she is two she gets to go to "school" twice weekly. She thoroughly enjoys her time at school which includes such activities as art, music, outside play, snack time, and lunch time. Here are a couple of pictures of her first day:

Showing Mommy her lunchbox

Packing her bags

Here comes Tatum!

Tatum Turns 2!

It is hard to believe, but Tatum turned 2 on October 17th! We decided to head to Shenandoah with some friends in order to celebrate this special event. We stayed in a lodge in a small town called Sperryville right outside of Shenadoah National Park. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate great and our hiking consisted of walking through some pretty thick fog. Day 2 was slightly better weather along the Sky Line Drive, but that depended on the altitude and how far North we were. The Northern third of the park was closed because of snow! However, we were able to drive the lower 2/3 and saw some amazing views of the moutains in near peak fall colors. After the events of the past few weeks, it was a welcome getaway and Tatum seemed to enjoy "Doah" as she calls it.

Tatum and Elise ready to blow out the Elmo Birthday Cake

Family Picture on a Fog-covered Hike

Tatum Hiking

Below the Snowline along the Sky Line Drive in Shenadoah

In loving Memory of Megan Jeanette Smiley

June 26, 1987 -October 9, 2009

As a bridesmaid on our Wedding Day, June 14, 2003 (age 15)

Meeting Tatum for the first time (December 2007; age 20)

Christmas Eve 2007

Family trip to the Outer Banks 2008 (age 21)

Trip to the Hunt Club Farm

It was the perfect Fall weather this weekend in Virginia, so we decided to head out to the Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach to tour the pumpkin patch and to do some fall activities. Tatum's favorite part of the day was the petting zoo and riding the pony, Thunder, a 13-year old miniature horse.

Watching a tortoise

Petting a pygmy goat

Riding "Thunder"

Bravely climbing a hay-stack

Attempting to pick up the pumpkin...she really wanted this one!

Enjoying the fall breeze on the hayride